Deliberative Democracy Day Takes a Look at Gun Control

March 6, 2013

OGDEN, Utah – Gun control will be the topic of Deliberative Democracy Day 2013. The Weber State University Senate chose the theme, “Firearms and the Law?”

Panelists will discuss gun rights and safety in school and other public places March 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Ballroom. Panelists include Stephanie Hollist, WSU’s assistant general counsel, Dane LeBlanc, chief WSU Campus Police, Phil Kirk, captain Park City Police and Fred Donaldson, principal DaVinci Academy of Science and the Arts.

Deliberative Democracy Day promotes both decision-making through deliberation and majority rule as critical to an effective democracy.

“Gun rights sit in a particularly difficult position between safety and freedom,” said Leah Murray, faculty in residence at WSU’s Community Involvement Center. “This is not an easy conversation as Americans do have a right to own weapons but also have a right to safety. Individual rights and collective safety often come into conflict; the Second Amendment is not the only place where this happens, but right now this is the most relevant place where this is happening. It is so important to teach our students how to have these difficult conversations, disagreeing without being disagreeable. This is the point of Deliberative Democracy Day and is perhaps most important this year on this topic.”

WSU is one of several colleges and universities across the country that participates in Deliberative Democracy Day. The initiative is part of the American Democracy Project and sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

The panel presentation is free and open to the public. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.